The Princeling of Nanjing (34 page)

Unlike the Shanghai show, where the workers from the PÖ sample factory were in attendance and cheered loudly, the reaction in London was muted, although Ava thought she could hear muttering that seemed to indicate approval. But success in the fashion world was all so subjective, she knew, skewed to reputation and expectation, and PÖ still lacked the former. One thing that did bode well, she thought, was the number of people taking photos or filming with their smartphones. It seemed as though every other person had a phone aimed at the runway.

Ava lost track of how many models had walked by, but she knew the end of the show was approaching, and there was still no sign of Pang Fai. “I’m beginning to worry about Fai,” she whispered to May. “Maybe she’s changed her mind about doing this.”

The constant flow of models quite suddenly stopped, and Ava watched the last three women walk past them and disappear backstage. There was a buzz in the air. Ava could detect disappointment in it, and felt a rush of anxiety. Was it possible Pang Fai wouldn’t appear?

Then all of the models began streaming onto the runway, followed by Clark, who was wearing white linen slacks with a red silk scarf tied around his waist and a loose-fitting white linen shirt with colourful glass buttons. He took five or six steps forward, stopped, turned, and extended his right arm back towards the runway entrance.

Ava felt time stand still. Seconds seemed to stretch into minutes. Then an extraordinarily tall woman stepped onto the runway. She wore a delicately spun black linen coat shot through with thin strands of red and gold. All three colours shimmered under the lights. The coat was tightly fitted and came to just below the knee. The clean, minimalist cut was juxtaposed with a scalloped hem and bell sleeves. The model’s face was obscured by a multi-layered hood trimmed in red.

“Is that Pang?” May said.

The model took three steps forward and then stopped. She rolled her shoulders back and then held out a hand towards Clark. He walked to her, took her hand, and led her slowly down the centre of the runway.

Ava could hear herself breathing and realized that the entire room had fallen silent.

Clark faced the woman and whispered something to her. When she nodded, he began to undo the onyx coat buttons. When he finished, he moved back and took two steps to the side.

Her hands reached up and pulled the coat off. It floated to the floor.

May gasped, and Ava felt her own breathing stop for a second.

Pang Fai raised her head. She wore no makeup and her hair was cut in a simple pageboy. She had on a white linen T-shirt that barely reached her thighs, exposing nearly all of the famous Pang legs. The word “PÖ” was written in red, and along the bottom were the date and the word “London.”

The models lined the runway, surrounding Clark and Pang. May, Amanda, and Ava hardly noticed the steadily rising applause. Their attention was fixed on Pang Fai.

“Whoever thought of having her so plain under that coat is a genius,” Amanda said.

“So plain?” May said. “I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful.”

Clark picked up the coat and placed it over Pang Fai’s shoulders. She smiled affectionately and leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

He turned and bowed, waved to the crowd, and took Pang Fai’s hand and led her backstage.

Ava felt her body sag and realized she had been caught up in the drama of it all. The applause abated and the crowd began to disperse. Most people were already making their way towards the exit, while a few headed backstage. The director had warned them about the rapid departures. There were shows going on all over London, and schedules were tight. Ava was turning to talk to May when out of the corner of her eye she saw Carrie Song hurrying towards them.

“What did you think?” Ava said.

“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” Carrie said, shaking her head. “The clothes were wonderful, and Pang Fai — my god, only a real superstar could have pulled that off.”

“She was amazing.”

“There is something else I want to tell you. Do you see that stocky man in the grey suit and light blue tie?” Carrie said, motioning towards the exit.

“The one surrounded by three or four other men in grey and black suits?”

“Yes.”

“Who is he?”

“Dominic Ventola, the chairman of VLG, the world’s second largest luxury brand company.”

“I know the name, and I know of VLG. Why would he come to our show?”

“Like everyone else, he may have wanted to see if Pang Fai would make an appearance. But I can tell you that once the show started he had his assistants — those other men in suits — taking photographs of every outfit.”

“Why would they have such an interest?”

“Not to steal Clark’s designs, if that’s what you’re thinking. They don’t operate like that,” Carrie said. “But, among other things, Dominic likes to invest in talented young designers.”

“We don’t need any investors.”

“I’m not suggesting you do or that that’s what he wants,” Carrie said. “I probably shouldn’t have said anything at all.”

“No, I’m glad you did, and I’m sure Clark will be pleased to hear that a man like Ventola saw fit to attend his show and thought enough of his designs to record them.”

“He should be.”

“And I need to tell you how pleased I am that you came today,” Ava said.

“I feel like I have a stake in all of this and all of you.”

“A big enough stake that I can entice you to join us for a celebratory lunch?”

“Will Pang Fai be there?”

“Of course, as well as May, Amanda, Clark, and our entire Shanghai team.”

“I didn’t mean to sound quite so star-struck,” Carrie said with a laugh.

“Fai does that to people.”

Carrie looked at her watch. “I have two more shows scheduled over the next two hours. One is in Soho and the other is in the Docklands. I can’t miss them.”

“I understand, but by the time they’re done, in all likelihood we’ll just be getting started, and it won’t be a problem if you’re late.”

“I’ll try to make it.”

“Great. We’ve reserved the private dining area at Hakkasan Restaurant in Hanway Place. It’s near Tottenham Court Road, about a twenty-minute cab ride from here.”

“It sounds Chinese,” Carrie said.

“It is Chinese, actually Cantonese. We are a predictable bunch.”

“That’s the very last thing anyone would ever call you.”

This is the ninth installment in the Ava Lee series and it was one of the most difficult to write because some of the subject matter was far removed from my own personal experiences. There were four people in particular who helped fill in the blanks for me and I’d like to thank them:

Carrie Kirkman and Mary Turner — both fashion mavens and astute businesswomen in the fashion trade — who educated me on the workings of an industry I didn’t know very well.

A trio of eagle eyes scanned the page proofs for me and found a number of errors that even a large amount of diligence hadn’t previously discovered — so thanks to Catherine Roseburgh, Carol Shetler, and Robin Spano.

Kristine Wookey, who supplied me with a dizzying amount of information on linen.

Lawrence Wong, a Hong Kong resident, who advised on past and current business practices in China, and other things Chinese.

I also want to thank my publisher, Sarah MacLachlan, and her team at House of Anansi Press. They are unfailingly responsive and supportive. I want to especially mention Laura Meyer, my publicist. Laura is totally efficient and professional, but it is her wonderfully positive attitude and perpetual good cheer that make her a joy to work with.

As always, I need to thank my editor at Anansi, the great Janie Yoon. Even after eight books, she doesn’t let me glide. She continues to challenge me and, in her own subtle way, she keeps pushing to make every book better than the one before. At times it can be frustrating, but when I’m done, I’m grateful.

In terms of support, my own very large family continues to promote the books any way they can. My thanks to them all.

My agents, Bruce Westwood and Carolyn Forde, are almost like family now. Their support is also without question, but I value them as much for the honest advice and guidance they provide.

Last, I want to thank some booksellers. Each time we launch a new book I experience mixed feelings of anticipation and dread. We were fortunate to be able to launch the last two books at the Indigo store in the Manulife Centre at Bay and Bloor Streets in Toronto and at the Burlington Central Library, with the support of A Different Drummer Books. I want to personally thank Colleen Logan, general manager at the Manulife Indigo, and Ian Elliot, the owner of A Different Drummer, for their tremendous support.

IAN HAMILTON
is the author of nine novels in the Ava Lee series. The books have been shortlisted for numerous prizes, including the Arthur Ellis Award, the Barry Award, and the Lambda Literary Prize, and are national bestsellers.
The Water Rat of Wanchai
was the winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was named a best book of the year by Amazon.ca, the
Toronto Star
, and
Quill & Quire.
BBC Culture named Hamilton one of the ten mystery/crime writers from the past thirty years who should be on your bookshelf.
The series is being adapted for television.

House of Anansi Press was founded in 1967 with a mandate to publish Canadian-authored books, a mandate that continues to this day even as the list has branched out to include internationally acclaimed thinkers and writers. The press immediately gained attention for significant titles by notable writers such as Margaret Atwood, Michael Ondaatje, George Grant, and Northrop Frye. Since then, Anansi’s commitment to finding, publishing and promoting challenging, excellent writing has won it tremendous acclaim and solid staying power. Today Anansi is Canada’s pre-eminent independent press, and home to nationally and internationally bestselling and acclaimed authors such as Gil Adamson, Margaret Atwood, Ken Babstock, Peter Behrens, Rawi Hage, Misha Glenny, Jim Harrison, A. L. Kennedy, Pasha Malla, Lisa Moore, A. F. Moritz, Eric Siblin, Karen Solie, and Ronald Wright. Anansi is also proud to publish the award-winning nonfiction series The CBC Massey Lectures. In 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2011 Anansi was honoured by the Canadian Booksellers Association as “Publisher of the Year.”

Praise for
The Water Rat of Wanchai

Winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel

“Ian Hamilton’s
The Water Rat of Wanchai
is a smart, action-packed thriller of the first order, and Ava Lee, a gay Asian-Canadian forensics accountant with a razor-sharp mind and highly developed martial arts skills, is a protagonist to be reckoned with. We were impressed by Hamilton’s tight plotting; his well-rendered settings, from the glitz of Bangkok to the grit of Guyana; and his ability to portray a wide range of sharply individualized characters in clean but sophisticated prose.”
 — Judges’ Citation, Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel

“Ava Lee is tough, fearless, quirky, and resourceful, and she has more — well, you know — than a dozen male detectives I can think of . . . Hamilton has created a true original in Ava Lee.”
— Linwood Barclay, author of
No Time for Goodbye

“If the other novels [in the series] are half as good as this debut by Ian Hamilton, then readers are going to celebrate. Hamilton has created a marvellous character in Ava Lee . . . This is a terrific story that’s certain to be on the Arthur Ellis Best First Novel list.”
 —
Globe and Mail

“[Ava Lee’s] lethal knowledge . . . torques up her sex appeal to the approximate level of a female lead in a Quentin Tarantino film.”
 —
National Post

“Formidable . . . Ava is unbeatable at just about everything. Just wait for her to roll out her bak mei against the bad guys. She’s perfect. She’s fast.”
 —
Toronto Star

“Imagine a book about a forensic accountant that has tension, suspense, and action . . . When the central character looks like Lucy Liu, kicks like Jackie Chan, and has a travel budget like Donald Trump, the story is anything but boring.
The Water Rat of Wanchai
is such a beast . . . I look forward to the next one,
The Disciple of Las Vegas
.”
 —
Montreal Gazette

“[A] tomb-raiding Dragon Lady Lisbeth,
sans
tattoo and face metal.”
 —
Winnipeg Free Press

“Readers will discern in Ava undertones of Lisbeth Salandar, the ferocious protagonist of the late Stieg Larsson’s crime novels . . . she, too, is essentially a loner, and small, and physically brutal . . . There are suggestions in
The Water Rat of Wanchai
of deeper complexities waiting to be more fully revealed. Plus there’s pleasure, both for Ava and readers, in the puzzle itself: in figuring out where money has gone, how to get it back, and which humans, helpful or malevolent, are to be dealt with where, and in what ways, in the process . . . Irresistible.”
 — Joan Barfoot,
London Free Press

“
The Water Rat of Wanchai
delivers on all fronts . . . Great story told with colour, energy, and unexpected punch.”
 —
Hamilton Spectator

“The best series fiction leaves readers immersed in a world that is both familiar and fresh. Seeds planted early bear fruit later on, creating a rich forest that blooms across a number of books . . . [Hamilton] creates a terrific atmosphere of suspense . . .”
 —
Quill & Quire

“The book is an absolute page-turner . . . Hamilton’s knack for writing snappy dialogue is evident . . . I recommend getting in on the ground floor with this character, because for Ava Lee, the sky’s the limit.”
 —
Inside Halton

“A fascinating story of a hunt for stolen millions. And the hunter, Ava Lee, is a compelling heroine: tough, smart, and resourceful.”
 — Meg Gardiner, author of
The Nightmare Thief

“Few heroines are as feisty as
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
’s Lisbeth Salander, but Ian Hamilton’s Ava Lee could give her a run for her money . . . Gripping . . . [Ava is] smart, gutsy, and resourceful.”
 —
Stylist UK

“With Ava Lee comes a new star in the world of crime-thrillers . . . Hamilton produced a suspenseful and gripping novel featuring a woman who is not afraid of anything . . . Captivating and hard to put down.”
 —
dapd/sda

“Thrillers don’t always have to be Scandinavian to work. Ava Lee is a wonderful Chinese-Canadian investigator who uses unconventional methods of investigation in a mysterious Eastern setting.”
 —
Elle
(Germany)

“Ava has flair, charm, and sex-appeal . . .
The Water Rat of Wanchai
is a successful first book in a series, which will definitely have you longing for more.”
 —
Sonntag-Express

“Hamilton is in the process of writing six books and film rights have already been sold. If the other cases are similar to this first one, Ava Lee is sure to quickly shake up Germany’s thriller genre.”
 —
Handelsblatt

“Brilliantly researched and incredibly exciting!”
 —
Bücher

“Page-turning till the end of the book! . . . Ava Lee is the upcoming crime-star.”
 —
dpa

“Exciting thriller debut with an astonishing end.
 —
Westdeutsche Zeitung

“Seldom does one get a thriller about white-collar crime, with an intelligent, independent lesbian and Asian protagonist. It’s also rare to find a book with such interesting and exotic settings . . . Readers will find great amusement in Ava’s unconventional ways and will certainly enjoy accompanying her on her travels.”
 —
Literaturkurier

Praise for
The Disciple of Las Vegas

Finalist, Barry Award for Best Original Trade Paperback

“I started to read
The Disciple of Las Vegas
at around ten at night. And I did something I have only done with two other books (Cormac McCarthy’s
The Road
and Douglas Coupland’s
Player One
): I read the novel in one sitting. Ava Lee is too cool. She wonderfully straddles two worlds and two identities. She does some dastardly things and still remains our hero thanks to the charm Ian Hamilton has given her on the printed page. It would take a female George Clooney to portray her in a film. The action and plot move quickly and with power. Wow. A punch to the ear, indeed.”
 — J. J. Lee, author of
The Measure of a Man

“I loved
The Water Rat of Wanchai,
the first novel featuring Ava Lee. Now, Ava and Uncle make a return that’s even better . . . Simply irresistible.”
 — Margaret Cannon,
Globe and Mail

“This is slick, fast-moving escapism reminiscent of Ian Fleming, with more to come in what shapes up as a high-energy, high-concept series.”
 —
Booklist

“Fast paced . . . Enough personal depth to lift this thriller above solely action-oriented fare.”
 —
Publishers Weekly

“Lee is a hugely original creation, and Hamilton packs his adventure with interesting facts and plenty of action.”
 —
Irish Independent

“Hamilton makes each page crackle with the kind of energy that could easily jump to the movie screen . . . This riveting read will keep you up late at night.”
 —
Penthouse

“Hamilton gives his reader plenty to think about . . . Entertaining.”
 —
Kitchener-Waterloo Record

Praise for
The Wild Beasts of Wuhan

Lambda Literary Award Finalist: Lesbian Mystery

“Smart and savvy Ava Lee, Toronto forensic accountant, returns in this slick mystery set in the rarefied world of high art . . . [A] great caper tale. Hamilton has great fun chasing villains and tossing clues about.
The Wild Beasts of Wuhan
is the best Ava Lee novel yet, and promises more and better to come.”
 — Margaret Cannon,
Globe and Mail

“One of my favourite new mystery series, perfect escapism.”
 —
National Post

“You haven’t seen cold and calculating until you’ve double-crossed this number cruncher. Another strong entry from Arthur Ellis Award winner Hamilton.”
 —
Booklist

“An intelligent kick-ass heroine anchors Canadian author Hamilton’s excellent third novel featuring forensic accountant Ava Lee . . . Clearly conversant with the art world, Hamilton makes the intricacies of forgery as interesting as a Ponzi scheme.”
 —
Publishers Weekly
, Starred Review

“A lively series about Ava Lee, a sexy forensic financial investigator.”
 —
Tampa Bay Times

“This book is miles from the ordinary. The main character, Ava Lee, is ‘the whole package.’”
 —
Minneapolis Star Tribune

“A strong heroine is challenged to discover the details of an intercontinental art scheme. Although Hamilton’s star Ava Lee is technically a forensic accountant, she’s more badass private investigator than desk jockey.
 —
Kirkus Reviews

“As a mystery lover, I’m devouring each book as it comes out . . . What I love in the novels: The constant travel, the high-stakes negotiation, and Ava’s willingness to go into battle against formidable opponents, using only her martial arts skills to defend herself . . . If you want a great read and an education in high-level business dealings, Ian Hamilton is an author to watch.”
 —
Toronto Star

“Fast-paced and very entertaining.”
 —
Montreal Gazette

“Ava Lee is definitely a winner.”
 —
Saskatoon Star Phoenix

“
The Wild Beasts of Wuhan
is an entertaining dip into potentially fatal worlds of artistic skulduggery.”
 —
Sudbury Star

“Hamilton uses Ava’s investigations as comprehensive and intriguing mechanisms for plot and character development.”
 —
Quill & Quire

Praise for
The Red Pole of Macau

“Ava Lee returns as one of crime fiction’s most intriguing characters.
The Red Pole of Macau
is the best page-turner of the season from the hottest writer in the business!”
 — John Lawrence Reynolds, author of
Beach Strip

“Ava Lee, that wily, wonderful hunter of nasty business brutes, is back in her best adventure ever . . . If you haven’t yet discovered Ava Lee, start here.”
 —
Globe and Mail

“The best in the series so far.”
 —
London Free Press

“Ava [Lee] is a character we all could use at one time or another. Failing that, we follow her in her best adventure yet.”
 —
Hamilton Spectator

“A romp of a story with a terrific heroine.”
 —
Saskatoon Star Phoenix

“Fast-paced . . . The action unfolds like a well-oiled action-flick.”
 —
Kitchener-Waterloo Record

“A change of pace for our girl [Ava Lee] . . . Suspenseful.”
 —
Toronto Star

“Hamilton packs tremendous potential in his heroine . . . A refreshingly relevant series. This reader will happily pay House of Anansi for the fifth instalment.”
 —
Canadian Literature

Praise for
The Scottish Banker of Surabaya

“Hamilton deepens Ava’s character, and imbues her with greater mettle and emotional fire, to the extent that book five is his best, most memorable, to date.”
 —
National Post

“In today’s crowded mystery market, it’s no easy feat coming up with a protagonist who stands out from the pack. But local novelist Ian Hamilton has made a great job of it with his Ava Lee books. Young, stylish, Chinese Canadian, lesbian, and a brilliant forensic accountant, Ava is as complex a character as you could want . . . [A] highly addictive series . . . Hamilton knows how to keep the pages turning. He eases us into the seemingly tame world of white-collar crime, then raises the stakes, bringing the action to its peak with an intensity and violence that’s stomach-churning. His Ava Lee is a winner and a welcome addition to the world of strong female avengers.”
 —
NOW
Magazine

“Most of the series’ success rests in Hamilton’s tight plotting, attention to detail, and complex powerhouse of a heroine: strong but vulnerable, capable but not impervious . . . With their tight plotting and crackerjack heroine, Hamilton’s novels are the sort of crowd-pleasing, narrative-focused fiction we find all too rarely in this country.”
 —
Quill & Quire

“Ava is such a cool character, intelligent, Chinese-Canadian, unconventional, and original . . . Irresistible.”
 —
Owen Sound Sun Times

Praise for
The Two Sisters of Borneo

national Bestseller

“There are plenty of surprises waiting for Ava, and for the reader, all uncovered with great satisfaction.”
 —
National Post

“Ian Hamilton’s great new Ava Lee mystery has the same wow factor as its five predecessors. The plot is complex and fast-paced, the writing tight, and its protagonist is one of the most interesting female avengers to come along in a while.”
 —
NOW Magazine
(NNNN)

“Ava may be the most chic figure in crime fiction . . . The appeal of the Ava Lee series owes much to her brand name lifestyle; it stirs pleasantly giddy emotions to encounter such a devotedly elegant heroine. But, better still, the detailing of financial shenanigans is done in such clear language that even readers who have trouble balancing their bank books can appreciate the way conmen set out to fleece unsuspecting victims.”
—
Toronto Star

“Hamilton has a unique gift for concocting sizzling thrillers out of financial misdoing.”
 —
Edmonton Journal

“Hamilton has this formula down to an art but he manages to avoid cliché and his ability to evoke a place keeps the series fresh.”
 —
Globe and Mail

“The series as a whole is as good as the modern thriller genre gets.”
—
The Cord

Praise for
The King of Shanghai

“One of Ian Hamilton’s best.”
 —
Globe and Mail